Simulsurfing the Tube: Catch a (Cyber)Wave and You’re Sitting on Top of the World

by Roger Wyatt
Winter 1999/Spring 2000

Lurking somewhere in your house, you most likely have both a computer linked to the Internet and a television. If you're like most of the readers of this magazine, both of these devices are in the "on" position a lot of the time, but not necessarily at the same time. We're going to change that. These days more and more people are using their TVs and computers in the same room. What's more, they use them at the same time.

For years now consumer electronic manufacturers have been talking about it: convergence. First it was digital convergence with all media heading out onto the Net. Now we can converge channel surfing and Web surfing into a new concept: simulsurfing. Surfing the Web while we check out the tube.

Why, you might ask, are we going to do that? After all, isn't TV the ultimate couch potato experience while Web surfing is the ultimate interactive information seeking experience? Do they mix? Indeed they do. Simulsurfing is an enriching process that allows you to interact in unique ways that make for a rich and deep experience that would be unimaginable in seasons past. Let's check out a day in the life of a simulsurfer.

Breakfast with CNN
Over breakfast the tube is on and CNN is filling the airwaves with breaking news stories. Reference is made to a statement on a talk show earlier in the week. The remark grabs our interest. Is that what was actually said? Because our computer is already on and connected to the Web, we surf over to the transcripts section of the CNN Web site: www.cnn.com/transcripts/. There we identify the program in question, pull up the transcript and read the statement for ourselves. No longer do we wonder about news accuracy; through simulsurfing we can check it out in real time as the program is airing. Access to additional information, instantly at the time and place of need, is a deep benefit of simulsurfing. Now with our question answered, it's time to get the day underway and head out to work.

Peacock for Lunch
Home for lunch, we take in Passions, the NBC soap opera that indeed is one of our guilty passions. But besides watching the program we can interact with it. We can let the producers know exactly what we think about every aspect of the program. Of course we could always write those producers a snail mail letter about it. Yeah, right. When was the last time you did that? While we are thinking about it, we can surf over to the Passions part of the NBC Web site and take a survey on our opinions about the program. With a click, it is out of the house and into their e-mail box.

It might be a good idea to brush up on those typing skills. You see, simulsurfing is about more than just surfing Web pages. It is an opportunity to enter into an online community of people who are interested in the same things as you are. In real-time chat rooms, you can discuss aspects of a program with others that are watching the same show. Think of how great it would be to chat in real time with your good friend from school who now lives on the other coast as you both watch.

On this particular day, we found a live chat with the cast of Passions at NBC's talkcity.com. As a matter of fact, you can talk about almost anything regarding the network. Want to talk about a night's programming? Click into the Peacock Lounge and share your thoughts with other fans.

TV Dinner
Back after a hard day at the office, it's time for our evening line up of programs. But first, you'll take in ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. During the evening news you see a story about the upcoming presidential election. You surf to abcnews.go.com to log your vote. You'll have to watch again tomorrow night to see what other simulsurfers think.

As the election nears there will most certainly be debates of all sorts--presidential, vice-presidential and senatorial. And there will come a time, while the debate is running live, that you will be on the Net checking matters of fact. For Congressional races, surf over to: lcweb.loc.gov/global/legislative/voting.html, it's a site developed by the Library of Congress. It contains roll call votes, member voting records and a whole lot more. Want to know voting attendance or pay raise votes? This is the place. Meanwhile on the tube the debate is moving on in real time in front of you.

If that isn't enough you can surf over to Vote Smart: www.vote-smart.org, where there is a wealth of facts on over 13,000 political leaders, including biographies and addresses, issue positions, voting records and campaign finances. Don't know who represents you? Just enter your zipcode and Vote Smart will let you know.

Are You Ready for Some Football?
But the night is moving on and there is still more simulsurfing to do. ItÕs time for Monday Night Football. On screen the game is down and dirty, the way good football should be. There are a lot of points on the board, but itÕs just not the same without John Elway. Then one of us gets to wondering just how many touchdowns Elway threw during his football career anyway. No problem. Just take a moment to surf over to: www.nfl.com/stats thatÕs the NFL Statistics and Schedules Web page. They have it all, the latest scores on the NFL scoreboard, or standings any way you want them. But weÕre looking for statistics and theyÕve gotÕem: individual game highs, team highs, playoffs, regular season, rookie, year-by-year records, all-time team and individual directories. As if this wasnÕt enough, all the schedules are here too team-by-team broadcast schedules and a whole lot more.

Late Night TV Talk
Our simulsurfing evening is winding down. Right about now we're not too thrilled with the new comic we're watching on the venerable Tonight Show. So over on the show Web site we can check out Jay Leno's opening monologue with RealPlayer Plus G2 streaming on www.nbc.com/tonightshow.

For now its time to power down the computer and shut off the tube. We've covered alot of territory out there in the simulcast combination of on-air and on-line. Time to get some rest so you can be fresh for that CNN chat tomorrow at breakfast.